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Although I believe he meant "public" as in, people who were affected but not directly filing the lawsuits. So, as you say, people who worked for or were affiliated with the affected companies.

However, you can make the argument that this affected the entire North American tech labor market, in which case it truly would be the tech public at large.

Perhaps that's why they're so keen to settle.

The effects of a conspiracy to prevent poaching, effectively reducing the market for labor, will have knock-on effects. It affects wage levels at other firms, both within the technical community and in the affected regions at large. Given that the anti-poaching restrictions were international in scope (one instance involved former Apple employees being considered by Google, in France), this isn't a strictly Silicon Valley affair either.

So, yes, the affected markets were very large.

I am disappoint.

...AND signed with the lawyers to be represented.

the judge just have to agree that a significant number of people affect joined to allow a class action. even if in reality it leaves almost everyone out.